Alphabet Google has reportedly announced its first Gmail redesign since 2013, capping what the company says was an expensive overhaul two years in the making to adopt security and offline functionality and better resemble Microsoft Outlook, according to Reuters.
It is Google’s most extensive update to software in its G Suite workplace bundle since accelerating efforts to steal business from Microsoft’s dominant Office workplace software suite. Previously, G Suite added instant-messaging and spreadsheet features.
With Gmail, Google said it restructured email storage databases, unified three dueling systems for syncing messages across devices and upgraded computers underpinning the service. That shift to Google’s self-developed Tensor processing chips enables smart-assistant features such as “suggested replies” to messages and “nudges” to respond to forgotten emails.
“This is an entire rewrite of our flagship, most-used product,” said Jacob Bank, product manager lead for Gmail, which 1.4 billion people use each month.
Google declined to specify costs associated with the redesign. But parent Alphabet reported that first-quarter capital expenditures nearly tripled year-over-year to $7.3 billion.
According to reports, the overhaul was required primarily to provide offline access to up to 90 days of emails for users who turn on the feature.
The changes also fulfill another top demand of business executives – message expiration.
